FDA Reports Covidien Brain Device Linked to Nine Patient Deaths
June 29th, 2012 tmccoy
Today, the FDA sent out a warning about a Covidien device, saying that it may get stuck in the brain. This device, used to help patients who have rare malformed blood vessels has been reported as causing nine patient deaths after it got stuck in their brain.
This device is produced by the Covidien unit ev3. It works by using a spongy material that blocks off blood flow to the malformed blood vessels which are abnormally tangled, until the patient is able to get surgery. The spongy material is delivered to the brain through a catheter inserted through the groin.
The FDA changed the device’s label in April 2012 in order to warn doctors about the risk of the catheter sticking in people’s brains.
Source – Reuters

